After a brief hiatus, the title-winning ABT team re-joined the Formula E grid in 2023 for Season 10 alongside CUPRA as its partner, equipped with a Mahindra Racing powertrain. The contract with Mahindra has since been mutually terminated, coming to an end at the end of the current season. ABT now enters into a fresh alliance, partnering with motorsport icons Lola Cars, with Yamaha Motor serving as its technical collaborator for powertrain and software development.
Preparations for the launch are well underway at Lola and Yamaha, with software refinement and hardware testing in progress on the dyno. The inaugural on-track shakedown of the powertrain is scheduled for June. Further updates, including the unveiling of a title partner, additional sponsors, team structure and nomenclature, driver line-up, and car design, will be disclosed in the coming months.
WATCH: Look back through ABT's Formula E history as the team crossed the 100-race mark
This development coincides with Lola Cars' recent announcement of their return to global motorsport through a long-term technical collaboration with Yamaha Motor Company, commencing from Season 11. With over 500 victories over its motorsport history, Lola Cars, now in tandem with Yamaha, will team up on a cutting-edge powertrain for competition in electric motor racing's top tier.
The partnership paves the way for the team's participation in GEN3 EVO, set to get underway from Season 11. ABT is among Formula E's most successful outfits, with Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler winners of the Drivers' title at the hands of Lucas di Grassi in 2016/17 and the Teams' Championship in 2017/18. The German outift has been part of Formula E from the very first race in Beijing and has 47 podium finishes and more than 1,400 points to its name - hitting the 100-race mark at the Season 10 opener in Mexico City.
Alberto Longo, Chief Championship Officer of Formula E: “The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is thrilled to welcome Lola Cars and Yamaha Motor to the paddock, and excited for ABT as they embark on this exciting journey together for the highly-anticipated GEN3 Evo era. This partnership signifies their commitment to innovation and performance in the world of electric racing and EV development, and we will be eagerly waiting to see the impact they will make on track”.
Thomas Biermaier, CEO and Team Principal of ABT: “We are delighted to have found two renowned partners for our future in Formula E. Of course, it will be a big challenge for a new manufacturer to enter and establish itself in a world championship. But during our discussions and negotiations over the past few months, we have clearly sensed how skilled, motivated and determined Lola and Yamaha are to make this project a success – just like every member of our team. In the meantime, we are fully focused on the current season. Our goal is to achieve as many sporting highlights as possible in the coming weeks.”
Till Bechtolsheimer, Chairman, Lola Cars Ltd.: “We are thrilled to be partnering with ABT as we bring the technology we’ve developed with Yamaha Motor Company to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. It’s exciting to be working with a team that has so much history and success in the sport. Operating factory-backed programmes is ABT’s bread and butter and their experience in Formula E will give us a critical leg up. We look forward to developing our relationship within and beyond the electric racing series.”
Heiji Maruyama, Managing Executive Officer and Director, Yamaha Motor co., Ltd.: “Yamaha Motor is accelerating the research and development of various technologies that contribute to sustainability. As the Technical Partner of Lola, we hope to acquire more advanced energy management technologies through the highest level of electric racing in Formula E. We are very happy and honoured to have the opportunity to contribute to the success of such a great team as ABT with our technology, working together with Lola.”